Commission Gives France Two Months to Comply : EU Threatens France with Legal Action over Nuclear Waste
The European Commission has requested France to fully transpose the Radioactive Waste Directive as part of its monthly package of infringement decisions, where the it pursues legal action against Member States for failing to comply with their obligations under EU law.
The Commission explained that it has requested France to ensure full transposition of the Radioactive Waste Directive (Council Directive 2011/70/Euratom).
It added that this Directive establishes a Community framework for ensuring responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste to avoid imposing undue burdens on future generations.
Further, it is said to ensure that Member States provide for appropriate national arrangements for a high level of safety in spent fuel and radioactive waste management to protect workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionising radiation.
Moreover, it requires the provision of necessary public information and participation in relation to spent fuel and radioactive waste management while having due regard to security and proprietary information issues. Member States were required to transpose the Directive by 23 August 2013.
The European Commission said that it has now sent a reasoned opinion to France requesting it to ensure full transposition of the Directive.
France has two months to comply with this obligation, after which the Commission may decide to refer them to the Court of Justice of the EU.
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